FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A group of local police officers walked into CentraState Medical Center’s conference center last week wearing uniforms that appeared to be too large for them.
It turns out there was a good reason why the uniforms seemed ill-fitting: each officer had lost a significant amount of weight while taking part in the Police Charity Weight Loss Challenge.
The challenge to benefit charity was sponsored by A Better You Weight Management Center, Freehold.
Collectively, the officers from the Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Colts Neck, Manalapan and Marlboro police departments dropped 540 pounds in eight weeks.
The challenge began on Sept. 27 when teams of five police officers weighed in to begin a medically supervised weight loss program.
On Nov. 22, Manalapan’s officers were honored as the winning team after losing a total of 153.6 pounds. Lt. Jeff Morrell was saluted for losing the most weight of any participating officer — 45 pounds.
Morrell was presented with a check for $5,675, which he presented to the team’s charity, Parents of Autistic Children (POAC). The check was accepted by Gary Weitzen, the executive director of POAC, who said he was honored to receive the check in the company of such worthy charities.
Each police team raised money for a specific charity, while A Better You Weight Management Center raised funds for them through sponsorships.
The Freehold Borough police officers raised money for Susan G. Komen For the Cure (breast cancer research); the Freehold Township police officers raised money for Homes for Our Troops; the Marlboro police officers raised money for the Ashley Lauren Foundation to assist children who are battling cancer; and the Colts Neck police officers raised money for the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center.
The participants met with a doctor and a nutritionist who monitored their progress. The CentraState Fitness and Wellness Center provided the officers with the use of its fitness facility free of charge during the eight-week contest.
Joy Solliday, director of A Better You Weight Management Center, said her staff members enjoyed working with the police officers and were excited about the results of the weight loss initiative.
“We are passionate about health and weight loss and what we do,” Solliday said. “Our focus is not only weight loss, but total health and well-being. The teams not only got into smaller clothes, they also had the opportunity to establish healthier lifestyles.”
She thanked Gail Plaza, business development coordinator for A Better You Weight Management Center, who was instrumental in implementing the program, and Tom Tucci, general manager of the CentraState Fitness and Wellness Center, for opening the facility’s doors to the participants and for joining with A Better You Weight Management Center to offer the center.
Dr. Rebecca Cipriano, the founder of the business, said she was very excited to work with the program and to be able to bring diet and exercise together to create a lifestyle change for the participants.
“Our police departments are now 540 pounds lighter to defend us and I can even see a spring in their step tonight,” Cipriano said.
Morrell said he learned a lot about family support, as well as support from his fellow officers and from the community during the program.
“We pushed for the weight loss, but we also wanted to push for donations for our charity,” he said. “We had a lot of help and we couldn’t have done it without the community, from the guy who gave me $5 to the business that donated $1,000. And we couldn’t have done it without our fellow competitors.”
Freehold Borough Patrolwoman Wendy Papp, who was the captain of her team, said she was very happy to participate in the program. She lost 31 pounds in the process.
“The staff were very motivational,” Papp said. “I was happy for the opportunity to participate in this and to raise some money for our charity.”
Marlboro Capt. Bart Lombardo, who served as the captain of his team, said the program was great and said he was very happy to have lost 31 pounds.
“It is a difficult transition from patrolman’s work to administrative work and over the years there has been a slow creep of weight I needed to lose and the program was a great start,” Lombardo said. “It was also a great way to raise some funds for a charity we consider special.”
Colts Neck Sgt. Kevin Walsh joined the program to lose some weight and lower his cholesterol. He lost 8 pounds and is happy with the results. He said it took discipline, but that it was a good plan for him.
Freehold Township Detective George Burdge said it was time for him to lose weight and he said he was very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the program.
“I want to be around to see my son grow up,” Burdge said of his toddler son. The detective lost 38 pounds in eight weeks.
What did some of the officers miss the most during this eight-week program?
“Carbs,” Budge said.
“Carbs,” Freehold Borough Patrolman Mark Garahan said.
“Carbs,” Freehold Borough Patrolman Shaun Hobbs said.
The officers said they are staying on track and keeping the weight off.